AT (noun, place) – Abbreviation for Appalachian Trail or the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

ATC (noun, organization) – Abbreviation for Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the organizatino that oversees the maintenance of, conservation on, and advocacy for the preservation of the AT. The headquarters in Harpers Ferryis also often referred to as “the ATC.”

Awol (noun, thing) – Short for The A.T. Guide by computer scientist and AT thru-hiker David “Awol” Miller.

Blue-blaze (verb) – To skip a section of the white-blazed ATby walking an alternative route.

The Bubble (noun, concept) – The denser cluster of northboundthru-hikers who embark from Springer Mountain the last week of March and the first week of April. Sometimes also refers to the much smaller cluster of southbound thru-hikerswho embark from Mount Katahdinthe first week of June.

Cairn (noun, thing) – A small tower of rocks used as a trail marker in areas where trees are scarce, or used sentimentally as a monument.

CDT (noun, place) – Short for the Continental Divide Trail or Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which runs 3,100 miles across the the U.S.’ western continental divide, from Mexico to Canada. See Triple-Crown.

Flip-flop (verb) – To thru-hike the entire ATbut in a non-contiguous manner. See Flip-flopper.

Hiker trash (adjective or noun, people) – A term for or describing long-distance hikers whose absence from civilization has led them to abandon certain social norms and expectations, becoming disheveled in appearance. It is sometimes said as an insult, but usually taken as a compliment.

PCT (noun, place) – Short for the Pacific Crest Trail or Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which runs 2,600 miles across the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges in the western United States. See Triple-Crown.

Pink-blaze (verb) – To follow a woman down the trail out of romantic interests, usually done by a man.

Privy (noun, thing) – An outhouse or compostable toilet at a backcountry campsite.

PUDS (phrase) – Short for “pointless ups and downs,” meaning a series of climbs and descents without a view.

Purist (noun, person) – A thru-hiker who endeavors to walk every inch of the AT, typically also without assistance. The term is often used condescendingly.

Ridge-runner (noun, person) – An ATC volunteer who monitors the AT, especially in heavily-trafficked areas such as state and national parks.

Section Hiker (noun, person) – A 2,000 miler who hiked or is currently hiking the entire ATin over a year, in any order.

I am so grateful to The Trek and it’s glossary, it’s helping me prepare my 2018 Thru-Hike. As a novice to hiking my research expanded my vocabulary exponentially. I still thought folks carried metal canteens, lol! How about adding to the glossary a section devoted to gear terminology? Words like: denier, cuben fiber, brain, fly, ridge line, A frame, to name a few. As a newcomer I was thinking it would be nice having one place to go to to learn what these terms mean in the hiking world.